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It may seem like a question with a simple resolution : How far away is the moon ? But the aloofness between Earth and our closest neighbor is more nuanced than a undivided numeral .
" The commonly quoted average distance of 384,400 kilometers , or 238,855 miles , is a good idea , " saidCraig Hardgrove , an associate prof of Earth and blank exploration at Arizona State University and principal investigator on LunaH - Map , a remote mission designed to detect ice deposits on the moonlight .
How far is the moon from planet Earth?
However , the lunar month ’s arena around the Earth is elliptical , so its space from Earth varies , " Hardgrove told Live Science in an e-mail .
That distance ranges from or so 221,500 mile ( 356,470 km ) away at its closest full point to Earth , call off perigee , to 252,000 miles ( 405,600 klick ) aside at its furthermost point , called apogee , Hardgrove say .
The space at apogee is so with child , thesolar system ’s seven other planets ( Mercury , Venus , Mars , Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus and Neptune ) could fit between Earth and the moonlight , astronomerPhil Plaitwrote forSlate . This sentiment experimentation works if the fair diameter of the planets are added together , which equals 236,100 miles ( 380,016 km ) .
How far is the moon from planet Earth?
Related : Have days on Earth always been 24 hours ?
We can thank the Apollo astronauts for the accuracy of these mensuration , Hardgrove tell . Using reflectors left on the lunar control surface in the 1960s and ' 70s , scientist today can shine high - powered laser at the moon and evaluate their reflection speed to determine the satellite ’s space from Earth .
In fact , the moon beam 30 % shiny — and appear 14 % larger in diameter — during perigee than when it ’s at apogee , Hardgrove noted .
The moon travels in an elliptical orbit around Earth.
" These changes are sometimes referred to as a ' supermoon ' when the Moon is nigh and as a ' micromoon ' when it is furthest away , " he said . While both the moon ’s distance and its phases follow the same approximately 27 - daytime lunar oscillation , they are not forthwith related , Hardgrove say .
In most case , the average distance between Earth and the moon is accurate enough for the cosmopolitan public , Hardgrove say . However , some cases — such as planning a mission to orbit or land a spacecraft on the moon — command a more exact mensuration . fortunately for lunar researcher , these considerations are much less daunting than for missions to Mars , which has a space variation of 35 million miles ( 56 million kilometre ) , compare with the moon ’s roughly 31,000 miles ( 50,000 km ) .
— Why ca n’t we see the far side of the moon ?
— Why can we sometimes see the moon in the daytime ?
— How many humankind could the moon support ?
" The variation in distance between perigee and apogee … can move change of location meter by a small security deposit , " Hardgrove said . " [ But ] other factors , like trajectory , landing web site conditions , and solar illumination , tend to be more significant considerations for Moon delegation . "
Noah Petro , a undertaking scientist forNASA ’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter , say we ’re lucky to catch the moon at a specially exceptional part of its journeying away from Earth .
" Early in lunar history the Moon was much closer [ but it ] has been easy drifting from the Earth for over 4 billion geezerhood , " Petro told Live Science in an email . " We ’re fortunate to be around at this time where the Moon is at its current range in distances since we can get those magical moments where the Moon block the Sun and we get total solar eclipses . "
